These two general attributes of communities--convenience and space--competed with each other throughout the survey. As respondents were asked about their priorities in choosing where to live, once again a limited commute time was the most important consideration. Nearly eight in ten rated being within a 45-minute commute as "very" or "somewhat" important, followed by easy access to highways and having sidewalks and places to walk. Women and African Americans placed a particularly high importance on sidewalks and places to walk.

At the same time, majorities placed importance on living in a place that's "away from it all" and having a home with an acre of land, while "being in the center of it all" was considered much less important.

Lower in priority but still important to respondents was the ability to walk to specific destinations in their communities. Half said being within walking distance of stores and restaurants was important when thinking about where to live, and nearly as many placed importance on being within walking distance to schools and public transportation. As Table 2 shows, African Americans and Hispanics were much more likely than whites to put priority on being within walking distances of stores and schools and on the availability of public transportation.

Finally, diversity had a place on Americans' wish list. Two-thirds wanted to live in communities with people at different stages of life--single adults, families with children, and older people--and close to half valued racial and ethnic diversity. Diversity of incomes was important to 45 percent, and a mix of housing types to nearly four in ten.

Women and African Americans were more likely than men and whites to place importance on living in an intergenerational community. Minorities, more so than whites, considered community diversity in general to be important. Three-quarters of African Americans and two-thirds of Hispanics considered living in a community with a mix of ethnic and racial backgrounds important, compared to 41 percent of whites. Similar differences in importance surrounded the diversity of incomes and of housing type.